The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Oregon EDGE Brandon Dorlus plans on taking full advantage. Dorlus recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Dorlus also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his pass rush arsenal, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Dorlus better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Brandon Dorlus: My coaching staff asked me to come to the facility. I believe we were preparing for our Bowl game. The coaching staff called me into the office and handed me the Reese’s Senior Bowl box. I was very excited to receive an invite for a second straight year.
JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Brandon Dorlus: I’ve always wanted to play in the Senior Bowl. I see that invite as an opportunity to compete against some of the top dogs in the 2024 NFL Draft. I think I’m one of the best players in the draft. I know I’m a top dude. I can go out there and dominate in Mobile.
JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Brandon Dorlus: A lot of doubters want me to prove that I can play the interior defensive line position at the next level. I know there are some lingering questions about my size when it comes to playing inside. I just want to prove that I’m the same disruptive player no matter what position I play. I want the general managers and scouts to see that up close and personal.
JM: How would you describe your skill set in your own words? Write your own scouting report for me.
Brandon Dorlus: I’m a dog. I have that dog mentality. That would definitely appear on my scouting report (laughs). I’m always hungry. I’m coming for everything. I have a lot of faith in my pass-rush arsenal. I’m one of those versatile pass rushers. You never know what I’m going to hit you with. I might hit you with power, I might hit you with speed. I’m a jack of all trades.
JM: If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL pass rusher, who would you choose and why?
Brandon Dorlus: I’d probably choose Cameron Jordan from the New Orleans Saints. We’re both bigger dudes that can play the edge. We definitely use some of the same pass-rushing moves. I love to hit offensive linemen with a long arm. I love the club swim-over. Those moves led to a few sacks. I’ve been progressing as a pass rusher.
JM: You sure have. You had a career-high 5.0 sacks this season. You were one of the most impressive pass rushers in the Pac-12. What changed for you in 2023 that allowed you to take that step forward?
Brandon Dorlus: I just did a better job trusting myself and my coaching staff. I didn’t overthink it. I didn’t try to do too much. I let the game come to me. I didn’t complicate my pass-rushing moves. I never got too fancy. When a defensive lineman wants to reach the quarterback, it’s important to not have any wasted steps or wasted movements. I cleaned some stuff up. I stopped doing finesse moves. I started running through the opposition.
JM: What are some of your go-to moves and counters?
Brandon Dorlus: My go-to move, it depends on who I’m going up against. If my opponent is too weak to block me, I always start the game with some power moves. I might go with a long-arm. If they stop my long arm, I’ll go to my long-arm club/over. I like my spin move, it’s very smooth. I do a club-rip. I love all of those moves.
JM: You were very effective rushing the passer this season. What’s on Brandon Dorlus’ pre-game playlist?
Brandon Dorlus: The pregame playlist? I like Kodak Black. I listen to a lot of Kodak. I listen to some G Herbo and NoCap as well. Rylo Rodriguez is on there. Anything that gets me going before a game.
JM: At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Brandon Dorlus?
Brandon Dorlus: I want to prove exactly what I came to prove to everybody in attendance. That I’m one of the best players in the 2024 NFL Draft. I want to showcase how dominant I am.
Of course, I want whichever team I’m on to win the game. I always want to win, I definitely want to win the game to close out a successful week. I’m going to be effective while showcasing my overall dominance.
